Hi I'm maziemommy-

Anyone else from around here?

Anyone else share the same doc?"Christopher Edwards "

If you are looking for a doc in MO.... I would highly recommend him and his staff!

I would love to hear from any one close to my area.

Hello everyone!!

GOOD NEWS!!!! I got insurance approval today!!! I don't think it has really hit me yet. Now I just have to wait for Mary to call me back to finalize everything. :bounce:Not really looking forward to the liquids!

UN5-3051: the relaxation after lunch was only bad because it was later in the day and we had just eaten so everyone was REALLY relaxed and it would have been really easy to go tosleep. LOL. But no, we didn't have to move from our chairs.

Paula: Welcome! And, congrats on the surgery! I'm glad everything went well and you are up and moving again. I'm glad you made it to this site. This has been one of the most helpful sites I have found. So helpful in fact, I didn't have any questions for Dr. Edwards when I had my visit with him a while back. This group, as I may have mentioned, is especially nice and helpful.

Hey!

Many congratulations on your insurance approval! That is wonderful.

I am envious tho truly happy for you!

I attended the 8 hr class on Monday. There were 14 potential lap-banders there. It was so informative and I enjoyed it. Wanted to sleep during the relaxation time and thought of you!

HOpe you hear from Mary soon...........

My appt with Dr. Edwards is 8.14, next Tuesday and will set my surgery date then.

Tabitha, congratulations on insurance approval!! I'm sure that's a big relief!! I'm doing great since surgery. I've only lost around one pound since then, but I lost about 12 pounds during the liquid stage. The liquids before surgery wasn't nearly as hard for me as I thought it would be. I was so concerned about shrinking my liver enough that I didn't want to take any chances at all...so I didn't cheat, and wasn't even really tempted. It was the liquids AFTER surgery that I really struggled with. I'm so glad that is over with!!!

Good luck with going through all the remaining steps! It should go really fast now that your insurance has come through!! Thanks again for telling us about this site. It has been very helpful!!!

Paula

I talked to Mary a few minutes ago and have my final appt. with Dr. Edwards next Thursday (8/16) and then will get date.

UN5 - we could be going in for surgery about the same time. Good luck with everything. And to answer your question, I saw Amy. I had been meeting with Amy prior to that for the New Images program so I set it up with her.

You know, it really hasn't hit me yet that this is really going to happen. This time next week may be a different story though. I figure once I get the date and pay the 20% the ins. doesn't pay, and start liquids then it will hit.

Here we go...

If you're interested in trying to get a surgery date a little sooner...I know one lady that started her liquids a week before her last appt with Dr. Edwards, so when she went in to get the surgery date, she was able to schedule it for only one week later. (I guess you run the risk of having to stay on liquids for longer than 2 weeks if they don't have an available surgery time during the next week....but if you are in a hurry to get it done, you could give it a try!)

Good luck Tabitha and UN5. I hope you get your dates quickly!! I'm excited for you!!

Paula

Hey Tabitha....

We could absolutely be on the same surgery day........wouldn't that be something! :hug:

You got an appt quickly with Dr. Edwards! Way to go.

When I made mine, he was booked 2 wks out.....:violin:

I'll let you know my scheduled time after I see him.

Are you thinking of starting the liquid diet early? I've vascillated on that decision since I'd read others have done that to speed up the process.

barb

When I met with Dr. Edwards the first time he told me that when I make my final appt with him to go ahead and start the liquid phase. Yesterday when I made my appt I asked them if I should still do that and they said not to and to wait and talk to doc first.

So, I'm not really sure what to do. Actually, I have planned a "last drink" happy hour:beer: right after that appointment, so I think I might wait. I will put some more thought into it.

UN5 - definately let me know when your date it and I will keep you posted on mine.

wow, Tabitha......that is a hard decision. He didn't tell me to start the diet when I scheduled again. I like the idea of a happy hour celebration!

I think I am going to not rush the process and use the time to prepare like Katie taught us in class. In the big picture, I think it will help me adjust better to the new lifestyle.

I will post here next Tuesday with my surgery date! Watch for me

barb

<p>Barb - You are welcome to join us for happy hour next week! Just me and some people I work with. If you want more info let me know.</p> <p> </p> <p>I was going to see if I could get in on Tuesday if there was a cancellation, but he has to do a surgery that day so there is no chance. <img src="http://www.LapBandTalk.com/images/smilies/frown.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Frown" smilieid="2" class="inlineimg" /> Being patient is not easy for me.</p> <p> </p> <p>I can't wait to hear your date...hey, when you schedule tell them to save a place for me on the same day. <img src="http://www.LapBandTalk.com/images/smilies/biggrin1.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Biggrin1" smilieid="199" class="inlineimg" /></p>

Hi all! Someone suggested that baby food might be a good idea after surgery when you begin soft foods again - anyone have any thoughts on this? Did anyone give this a try? If so, which ones are good? I bought a couple of really small jars today to see if it is doable.

Also, I bought a book titled "Before and After" by Susan Leach. Has anyone read this? Susan, the nutritionist, showed this to me (and probably to all of you as well) so I thought I would read it. Looks like it has some good receipe ideas

And finally, for those of you who have been through the before surgery liquid phase - any suggestions for keeping the energy level up? Any particular liquids that helped you get through the day?

Thanks in advance for all of the ideas.

Thanks for the book suggestion. I saw Dana instead of Susan. Don't remember any specific book in the paperwork she gave me. Glad you passed it on here!

Glad, too, that you asked about the liquid stage. I've noticed that there are not too many comments about it in general......hope someone replies!

I'm back.... sorry I was gone so long :phanvan.... boy I sure missed out on a lot!

Congratulations for the insurance approval!!!!:clap2:

Good for those who have made it through the day-long class already.:bored

Can't wait to see those surgery dates posted! :whoo:

Happy hour always sounds great.... and FYI:nervous....I have had no issues with an occasional drink or three :wacko:since surgery.

Someone asked about self pay costs.... I paid just over $17,000 :eek:and one year of aftercare is included (fills for 1 year are included) with the cost.

Pre-op diet for me was not too bad ... I was on my pre-op before the day long class and my last visit with Dr. Edwards....(only after OK'ing it and speaking with Mary/Dr. Edwards about getting scheduled quickly).

The first week diet is much easier than week 2... so if you want to try to go on it early-- it's not so bad, even if it does not help speed up the dates. :hungry:One sensible meal daily, and two meals of liquids-- plus plenty of Water and protein!:girl_hug:

GOOD LUCK TO ALL AND KEEP US UPDATED!:kiss2:-Kimberly-- AKA maziemommy

Welcome back Mazie! I was wondering what happened to you. :confused:

I'm glad to hear that a drink here and there is not out of the question down the road. I don't drink that much or that often, but we do go to happy hour on the nights we have dance class. I'm willing to change to something other than beer - I hear the bubbles can be painful.

So, I will answer my own question about the baby food...YUCK! I tried a couple of different vegetable ones and they are not good at all. Not even with a bit of salt added. Oddly enough, the chicken with chicken gravy and the chicken noodle were the better of the ones I tried. They also needed a bit of salt added. The book I mentioned before has some decent receipes in it for Protein shakes and soft foods. I think I will stick with that.

Night night all.:notagree The sooner I go to bed, the sooner Thursday gets here.:whoo:

August 31st, 2007 with

Dr. Edwards!

:update:

I am excited! Consent signed, pre op diet instructions, hugs from Dr. Edwards, Mary, Donna, Amanda, my husband, :confused:

etc. etc.

What a good day........I will sleep well tonite!:notagree

Wanted to share with you all.........thanks for reading this and caring.

:hug:

barb...........

ps: did I mention I am excited?!

I know this is going to sound bad, but I have my pre-op appt tomorrow and I really have no questions to ask doc. I feel like I should be asking something, but I have done so much research that all of my questions have been answered. So, I was wondering if you all might be willing to share the questions you had - maybe there is something I'm not thinking of.

Thanks!